butter bean

noun

chiefly Southern US and Midland US

: lima bean sense 2

Note: The name butter bean is used chiefly for either a small white or pale green lima bean or a large white to tannish lima bean.

For heartier appetites, a pair of succulent spring lamb chops cozy up to baby herbed lima beans (sometimes known as butter beans).—

Better Homes and Gardens

… we sampled big, silk-textured butter beans shimmering in their juices …—

Jane and Michael Stern

: a plant (Phaseolus lunatus) that bears butter beans

: wax bean

: a green shell bean especially as opposed to a snap bean

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Lime and mint give creamy butter beans or baby lima beans a refreshing tang in this wholesome side dish. —

ExpressNews.com, 27 Nov. 2019 Put the butter in a large serving bowl and pour the warm butter beans on top. —

ExpressNews.com, 27 Nov. 2019 The tripe is cooked with black beans, butter beans, chorizo and tomato to intensify the inherent umami flavour of mogodu. —

Nikita Singh, Quartz Africa, 15 Sep. 2019 There's a very legit gumbo, and fish filets are cornmeal-crusted, served on top of butter beans and topped with crisp okra. —

Polly Campbell, Cincinnati.com, 28 Aug. 2019 The aforementioned meaty and mild butter beans ($4.69) are huge limas somehow baked to deliciousness. —

Joan Wilder, BostonGlobe.com, 12 June 2019 In the seafood and meat section, there is a rustic beef short rib and mushroom ragout ($28), and octopus a la plancha ($31) mixed with butter beans, blood oranges and kale chips. —

Michael Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2018 The aforementioned meaty and mild butter beans ($4.69) are huge limas somehow baked to deliciousness. —

Michael Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2018 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'butter bean.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.